Grizzlies 104, 76ers 90
PHILADELPHIA -- Center Marc Gasol scored 19 points and guard Mike Conley added 18 as the Memphis Grizzlies routed the Philadelphia 76ers 104-90 on Tuesday night.
Guard Courtney Lee contributed 15 points for the Grizzlies, who won their second straight to improve to 16-14. Forwards Zach Randolph and Matt Barnes chipped in 14 and 12, respectively.
Gasol also had six rebounds and five assists, while Conley contributed six assists.
Rookie center Jahlil Okafor notched 18 points to pace Philadelphia, which dropped its 11th straight to fall to 1-29, the worst 30-game start in NBA history. Guard Hollis Thompson added 16 points and guard Isaiah Canaan had 15.
The 76ers turned the ball over 28 times, resulting in 36 Memphis points, and missed 11 of their 32 free throws. Canaan and Tony Wroten, the other starting guard, were a combined 6-for-14 at the line.
The Grizzlies opened a 29-18 lead late in the first quarter courtesy of a 15-2 flurry that included four points each by Gasol and Randolph, as well as three straight fast-break hoops following 76ers turnovers.
The 76ers rebounded, reeling off eight straight points in the second quarter to go up 42-40, but Lee contributed six points to a 13-3 run, putting Memphis back in front, 53-45.
The Grizzlies' lead was 53-47 at the half, at which point Lee and Gasol had 11 points each for Memphis. Thompson topped Philadelphia with 11.
Forward Robert Covington also scored the first basket of the second half to bring the 76ers within four, but Conley notched six points as the Grizzlies outscored Philadelphia 18-7 over the next six minutes to seize a 71-56 lead.
Memphis, up 77-66 at the end of the period, scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter, on two 3-pointers by backup forward Vince Carter and a follow shot by Randolph.
Another basket by Randolph a few minutes later gave the Grizzlies an 89-69 lead. The 76ers were no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
NOTES: Memphis G Tony Allen returned after missing the previous five games with a sore right knee. ... 76ers G Kendall Marshall, unable to play two consecutive games while recovering from offseason knee surgery, did not play. Another Philadelphia guard, Tony Wroten, is in the same position, but coach Brett Brown elected to play him against his former team. "Maybe," Brown said, "there's extra incentive to just bring your 'A' game." ... The Grizzlies started a small lineup for the sixth straight game, with veteran F Zach Randolph coming off the bench. "Pick-and-rolls have been a thorn in our side with the spread situation most teams are running now," coach Dave Joerger said. "We just got a little bit more active by going a little bit smaller." ... ESPN.com reported earlier in the day that the 76ers have had contact with two free agents, G John Lucas III and F Chuck Hayes.